Method for Customizing a User Interface for Selecting Broadcast Sources

ABSTRACT

A service is provided to program a consumer&#39;s remote control device to display logos or call signs of the broadcast stations as soft buttons instead of the conventional channel numbering. The broadcast channels available to the consumer depend on the consumer&#39;s geographic location and/or service provider. The service determines the proper available channels with a minimum of user intervention, and then supplies software code to properly configure the remote control device.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to providing a service to a consumer, preferablyvia a data network such as the Internet. More particularly, theinvention relates to a method of configuring a device for an end user.

BACKGROUND ART

Typically, subscribers to cable TV or satellite TV receive broadcastsfrom a plurality of TV stations (e.g., BBC1, BBC2, NED1, NED2, ARD, ZDF,TF1, FR2, . . . ) via their cable or satellite set top box. The cable orsatellite operator assigns to each station a part of the bandwidth onthe transmission medium (e.g., part of the spectrum on a coaxial cable).These bandwidth portions are called channels, and are identified bychannel numbers. In order to watch the programs broadcasted by aparticular station, a TV's tuner must tune to the correct frequency(range) or bandwidth portion, i.e., the correct channel.

In the US, channel numbers of the broadcast stations are fixed. That is,the user cannot change the channel number that goes with a certainstation. In Europe the situation is different: European television setsallow the user to associate an arbitrary channel number (from 0 to amaximum value, e.g. 99) to a specific station. That is, the station'ssignal still occupies a given fixed portion of the spectrum, but theuser can choose the channel number that identifies that portion forlocal processing.

Touch-screen remote control devices (e.g., the Pronto of Philips) have adisplay monitor with a touch screen. For background on touch screenremote control devices, see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,208,341 “GUI OFREMOTE CONTROL FACILITATES USER-FRIENDLY EDITING OF MACROS” (Attorneydocket PHA 23,470) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,956,025 “REMOTE WITH 3D-ORGANIZEDGUI FOR A HOME ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM” (Attorney docket PHA 23,248), bothincorporated herein by reference. The monitor displays control buttons(soft keys) that can be interacted with through the touch screen. Thekeys can be organized so that the monitor displays pages of clusters ofbuttons. The buttons per page then facilitate operational use of theremote control device, as buttons typically used together are madeaccessible in a single page, thus reducing the amount of navigation inthe menu.

For channel selection a specific page accommodates control buttons that,e.g., represent the digits used to identify the proper channel. Pressingthese buttons causes control commands to be transmitted to the receivingapparatus (e.g., a TV of a set-top box) in order to make the built-intuner tune to the channel thus selected. Depending on the channelselection mechanism implemented by the vendor, this may involve one,two, or three digits, an ‘enter’ key, a “−/−” key, a “100+’ key, etc.This process may be lengthy and requires users to memorizestation-channel number associations.

For an alternative, reference is made to Japanese Patent Applicationwith Publication Number 09-322013 “REMOTE CONTROLLER OF ICON DISPLAYSYSTEM”. This publication discloses a remote control system for a TVwith a touch screen remote control unit. The display monitor of theremote control unit displays icon information for selecting a TVchannel. The icon of the channel selected is also sent to the TV forbeing displayed on the TV's display monitor before the user's validatingthe selection. The company designing the application running at theremote and at the TV determines the icon's design.

For yet another representation, reference is made to European patentapplication EP 0 763 893 A1. This publication relates to a device forthe selection of television signals, comprising means for the tuning oftelevision signals, memory means for memorizing information for therelative tuning of preferred signals and an image display means with thepossibility to visualize information so as to facilitate the selectionof said preferred signals. The main characteristic of said deviceconsists in the fact that said information is shown under the form ofgraphic symbols that represent the logotype normally used by thebroadcasting station to identify itself. The majority of such icons willhave already been memorized in a memory of the device in the place ofmanufacture or installation. It is however convenient to provide aspecial entrance for the introduction of new icons on the part of theuser, when new broadcasting stations are activated, or stations alreadyin existence changing their icon. Such an entrance can be provided inthe control circuit. The use of special magnetic cards or a bar codereader, or other suitable systems can be used for the introduction ofthe icons. An alternative system, that would have the advantage ofconsenting an easy replacement or addition of icons, is that said iconsare transmitted directly by the broadcasting station concerned, by aspecial teletext page. At this point the control circuit can bepre-arranged in order to be able to read it along with the televideosignal and to register it in the memory according to the users command,or even automatically.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The inventors have realized that above approaches have drawbacks. Thefirst example above requires the end user to memorize the channels bytheir two-digit or three-digit channel number, which is rathercumbersome. The second example has the manufacturer provide differentcombinations of a remote control and TV set per broadcast serviceprovider, and also forces the user to keep using the specific remotecontrol with the same TV set. The third example requires themanufacturer or installer to program the logos of the channels relevantto the individual end user. The inventors therefore propose an approachmore convenient to all parties involved: the consumer, the manufacturerand the installer.

To this end, the inventors propose a method of enabling to configure adevice for enabling a user to select from among a plurality of sourcesthat supply content. The method comprises determining the plurality ofsources available to the user for operational use of the device.Respective representations of respective ones of the sources aredetermined for being rendered at a user interface. Then means isprovided for configuring the device so that user interaction with aspecific one of the representations rendered causes the device to selecta specific one of the sources associated with the specificrepresentation.

In an embodiment of the invention, the determining of the plurality ofsources comprises determining respective identifiers, being local to theuser, of respective ones of the plurality of the sources. The means isoperative to associate the respective representations with therespective identifiers. The means comprises, e.g., a look-up table ofassociations of the respective local identifiers with the respectiverepresentations.

For example, the sources comprise a broadcast channel that has a channelnumber associated with it as the identifier. A representation associatedwith the channel number comprises a logo or call sign of the channel forbeing rendered on a touch screen of the user interface. Alternatively, arepresentation associated with the channel number is indicative ofsemantics of the content broadcast on the channel. User interaction witha particular call sign or semantic representation of the content causesthe TV or radio to tune to the associated channel.

The channel numbers may be fixed (as in the US) or may beuser-programmable (as in Europe). The user may indicate to whichbroadcast stations he/she has got access, and in addition (in Europe)which identifiers (channel numbers) he/she has assigned to the stations.The method of the invention then provides a look-up table thatassociates channel numbers with the proper logos or call signs, togetherwith code for creating the logos or call signs in the user interface asa replacement for the channel numbers. Before installing the look-uptable and code at the device, user interaction with the channel numbercauses the proper control commands to be sent to the source to becontrolled, here a TV set or radio set. When the look-up table and codehave been installed, user interaction with the call sign or logotriggers sending the control commands via the look-up table.

As illustrated with the examples above, an embodiment of the inventionrelates to a substitution of logos or call signs for channel numbers inorder to facilitate user interaction. As an alternative, the completeconfiguring of the device could be delegated to a server. The means forconfiguring then includes software for the local recreation of the callsigns or logos in the user interface and, in addition, the propercontrol codes (e.g., macros) for control of the sources (e.g., tuning tothe proper channel). Within this context, see U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 09/519,546 (attorney docket US 000014) filed Mar. 6, 2000, forErik Ekkel et al., for “PERSONALIZING CE EQUIPMENT CONFIGURATION ATSERVER VIA WEB-ENABLED DEVICE”, incorporated herein by reference andpublished under PCT as WO0154406. This patent document relates tofacilitating the configuring of consumer electronics (CE) equipment bythe consumer by means of delegating the configuring to an applicationserver on the Internet. The consumer enters his/her preferences in aspecific interactive Web page through a suitable user-interface of anInternet-enabled device (104), such as a PC or set-top box or digitalcellphone. The application server generates the control data based onthe preferences entered and downloads the control data to the CEequipment itself or to the Internet-enabled device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention is explained in further detail, by way of example and withreference to the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGS. 1 and 5 are block diagrams of systems in the invention; and

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are flow diagrams of a method in the invention.

Throughout the figures, same reference numerals indicate similar orcorresponding features.

DETAILED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system in the invention 100 comprising aserver 102, a control device 104, a data network 106 such as theInternet, and audio/video (A/V) equipment 108. Device 104 has a userinterface preferably with touch screen functionality. Device 104 can beconnected to remote server 102 via data network 106 either directly(i.e., device 104 itself is network-enabled) or indirectly, e.g., via anetwork-enabled device (not-shown) such as a PC for download of datainto device 104. Within this context, see for example, U.S. applicationSer. No. 09/311,128 (Attorney docket PHA 23,501) filed May 13, 1999, forJoost Kemink for INTERNET-BASED SERVICE FOR UPDATING A PROGRAMMABLECONTROL DEVICE, incorporated herein by reference and published under PCTas WO0017738. This document relates to an Internet-based service forupdating a programmable control device. An Internet site contains linksto appliance-dependent control and feature option information which canbe downloaded to the programmable control as a graphic user interface(GUI). A user interface is provided at the site for the user to easilyspecify a target appliance, and thereafter selectively download theinterface and control information that is available for the targetappliance. The Internet site also contains links to other providers ofconfigurations and macros, such as system integrators who provideinterfaces based on an inventory of the user's controllable equipment,hobbyist who share configurations and macros that they've found useful,and so on.

The end-user controls AN equipment 108 via device 104. AN equipmentcomprises, e.g., apparatus that receive content via a broadcast such asa TV set or a radio set. TV sets and radio sets can be tuned to variousbroadcast stations to receive diverse programs.

In order to facilitate selection of content from a variety of sourcesavailable to the end-user, the inventors propose to use graphical orpictorial representations at the user interface of device 104 of thesources, rather than a numerical representation (e.g., channel number)in a sequence covering the available sources as explained above.Graphical representations may comprise the logos or call signs of thebroadcast stations. These then are used as soft buttons on the touchscreen.

On a scale of further granularity, the representation may comprise agraphical or pictorial representation of the content being currentlymade available. Accordingly, rather than selecting content based on thebroadcast source (e.g., TV channel or radio channel), the content isbeing selected based on its semantics. For example, pictorialrepresentations of TV programs currently being broadcast on channelsavailable to the end user in system 100 are made available as softbuttons on the touch screen of device 104. In order to provide a contextto the user, the representations may be clustered, e.g., in differentpages rendered on the touch screen. One page comprises the programscurrently being broadcast organized according to channel, another pageprograms that are going to be broadcast next in a similar organization,etc. Other organizations and clusters may be used to facilitate userinteraction and user control.

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are flow diagrams 200, 300 and 400, respectively,illustrating aspects of the method of the invention. According to anaspect of the invention, a list of station call signs (or logos or otherpictorial representations) is provided to represent the broadcastchannels from which the individual end user in system 100 can selectusing his/her control device 104, e.g., a remote control device with atouch screen. In order for this to work for a given user, thestation-channel number associations that apply to the individual user'ssituation need to be known. To this end, a service is provided thatallows the user to go through a personalization process.

In flow diagram 200, the user connects to server 102 in a step 202,e.g., via a PC or directly via device 104 if the latter isnetwork-enabled and provides a user interface that allows sending datavia a network. In the event users can assign their own channel numbers(e.g., as in Europe) the user indicates in a step 204 what stationshe/she receives and what channel numbers are to be used to identify thevarious stations. Once the user has provided this information, server102 provides in a step 206 control code comprising thestation/channel-number associations for this particular user, andpossibly logos for display on the remote's touch screen, for beingstored in an on-board database of device 104. When a user selects astation logo or call sign as rendered at device 104, the installedcontrol code looks up the corresponding channel number in the on-boarddatabase and a macro is launched that sends commands (e.g., via IR) toA/V equipment 108 corresponding to the sequence of digits and other keysthat causes equipment 108 to tune to the proper channel. The describedmethod provides a convenient web-based way of associating TV line-upstations to channel numbers, which then allows more convenient controlof tuning devices by means of a touch-screen remote control unit.

In flow diagram 300, the scenario is illustrated of fixedstation/channel-number associations (e.g., as in the US). Steps 202 and206 are similar to the ones in diagram 200. In the current scenario, theuser selects his/her cable TV or satellite operator and the line-up thathe/she receives: this determines the station/channel-number associationsas these are fixed by the operator for every line-up. Accordingly, in astep 302 the user indicates who is the service operator and the line-upreceived.

Flow diagram 400 illustrates a further simplification that can be madefor the European situation, by collecting postal delivery area codes andcable/satellite operator names from the user during the personalizationprocess, and associating the user's station selection to the operatorand area provided. Alternatively, it is sufficient to ask the user onlyfor the postal delivery area code in a step 402 and let the user choosefrom a list of operators that provide a service in that area in a step404. The station list will then be a given without the user having to gothrough a lengthy process of explicitly selecting all stations. As it isthe user's initially providing this information himself this is a verycost-efficient way of collecting such data. The described methodsprovide a data collection mechanism for postal delivery area codes andcable/satellite operator names, in which users provide the data. Thisallows the party setting up the web-based service to collect data verycost-efficiently. For reference: In Europe, the sole pan-European dataprovider Luxemburg-based Infomedia, a Gemstar-owned company, providesElectronic Program Guide data. They have lists of stations available percountry. However they do not have regional information (no informationon operators for a given postal delivery area code, and local TV line upoffering of that operator). Hence, the method of the invention couldprove very useful.

On a scale of further granularity, the representation of the channel maycomprise a graphical or pictorial representation of the content beingcurrently made available. Accordingly, rather than selecting contentbased on the broadcast source (e.g., TV channel or radio channel), thecontent is being selected based on its semantics. These semanticrepresentations are made available by, e.g., a service provider such asan electronic program guide (EPG) provider. Alternatively, these couldbe generated locally, e.g., by means of a spare TV tuner of the user'sequipment for scanning the available channels and grabbing a framerepresentative of the program currently being broadcast. For example,pictorial representations of TV programs currently being broadcast, orgoing to be broadcast shortly, on channels available to the end user insystem 100 are made available as soft buttons on the touch screen ofdevice 104. In order to provide a context to the user, therepresentations may be clustered, e.g., in different pages rendered onthe touch screen. One page comprises the programs currently beingbroadcast organized according to channel, another page programs that aregoing to be broadcast next in a similar organization, etc. Otherorganizations and clusters may be used to facilitate user interactionand user control. For this scenario to work, server 102 maintains aprogram guide per operator and provides graphical representations of therelevant programs preferably prepared in advance. These then areinstalled on device 104 representing the relevant channel for theduration of the associated program being broadcast. Accordingly, theuser interface of device 104 resembles a cross section of an electronicprogram guide restricted to temporal aspects.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of another system 500 in the invention. A/Vequipment 108 may also comprise apparatus for accessing a peer-to-peer(P2P) network 502 of, e.g., video recorders. The term P2P refers to atype of transient (Internet) network that allows a group of users withthe same networking program to connect with each other and directlyaccess files from one another's data storage. Various P2P configurationsexist, such as a centralized configuration, a decentralizedconfiguration and a controlled centralized configuration. In acentralized configuration, the system depends on a central server thatdirects the communication between peers. “Napster” is an example of acentralized configuration. A decentralized configuration has not got acentral server, and each peer is capable of acting as a client, as aserver or as both. A user connects to the decentralized network byconnecting to another user who is connected. “Gnutella” and “Kazaa” areexamples of decentralized networks. In a controlled decentralizedconfiguration a user may act as a client, as a server or as both as inthe decentralized configuration, but specific operators control whichuser is allowed to access which particular server. “Morpheus” is anexample of the latter. For a brief discussion of P2P networkarchitectures see, e.g., “Stretching The Fabric Of The Net: Examiningthe present and potential of peer-to-peer technologies”, Software &Information Industry Association (SIIA), 2001. FIG. 5 illustrates theexample of a centralized P2P network 502. On P2P network 502 each peer504, 506, . . . 508, may make its own logo or graphical representationavailable for recognition by other peers. This is easier and faster fromthe user's point of view than is possible with, e.g., network addressesor aliases. In this manner it is easier to spot peers whose recordedcontent was to the liking of the user on previous occasions so thatthese preferred peers are going to function as preferred channels easilyrecognizable by way of their logo. Macros can be installed similarly aswith the scenarios of system 100, discussed above, in order to simplifyuser interaction with device 104 for selecting the proper peer.

1. A method of enabling to configure a device for enabling a user toselect from among a plurality of sources that supply content, the methodcomprising: determining the plurality of sources available to the userfor operational use of the device; determining respectiverepresentations of respective ones of the sources for being rendered ata user interface of the device; and providing means for configuring thedevice so that user interaction with a specific one of therepresentations rendered causes the device to select a specific one ofthe sources associated with the specific representation.
 2. The methodof claim 1, wherein: the determining of the plurality of sourcescomprises determining respective identifiers, being local to the user,of respective ones of the plurality of the sources; and the means isoperative to associate the respective representations with therespective identifiers.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the meanscomprises a look-up table of associations of the respective localidentifiers and the respective representations.
 4. The method of claim2, wherein: the sources comprise a broadcast channel having a channelnumber as an associated one of the identifiers; and a corresponding oneof the representations associated with the channel number comprises alogo or call sign of the channel.
 5. The method of claim 2, wherein: thesources comprise a broadcast channel having a channel number as anassociated one of the identifiers; and a corresponding one of therepresentations associated with the channel number is indicative ofsemantics of the content broadcast on the channel.
 6. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the determining of the plurality of sources comprisesdetermining in which geographical area the user resides.
 7. The methodof claim 1, wherein the determining of the plurality of sourcescomprises determining a content service provider of the user.